Reinstall Windows 10 to new SSD on Dell laptop?

broona · 2 Jul 2018 at 21:24

I've ordered a Dell laptop from the outlet with a standard 1tb mechanical drive, and also a 256gb Samsung PM961 from the classifieds here that I want to use as a boot drive.

Can I just do a fresh install of Windows to the Samsung drive and use the Dell serial number?

Deleted member 77746 · 2 Jul 2018 at 21:28

broona said:
I've ordered a Dell laptop from the outlet with a standard 1tb mechanical drive, and also a 256gb Samsung PM961 from the classifieds here that I want to use as a boot drive.

Can I just do a fresh install of Windows to the Samsung drive and use the Dell serial number?

Yes but just make a new Windows 10 boot key and remove the 1TB mechanical drive. Install Windows, on the SSD then plug the other mechanical drive in and format it. You don't need to use the dell serial number for anything.

Orcvader · 2 Jul 2018 at 21:29

As above, as soon as you get to the desktop and have an active internet connection, Windows will reactivate itself. Just make sure you install the right version (home or pro).

broona · 2 Jul 2018 at 22:05

mrbell1984 said:
Yes but just make a new Windows 10 boot key and remove the 1TB mechanical drive. Install Windows, on the SSD then plug the other mechanical drive in and format it. You don't need to use the dell serial number for anything.

Orcvader said:
As above, as soon as you get to the desktop and have an active internet connection, Windows will reactivate itself. Just make sure you install the right version (home or pro).

That's great, it should be here this week, so I'll do it that way instead, thanks for the replies.

Pocah · 2 Jul 2018 at 23:41

Why not just clone the original disk, then you don't need to install anything. You can get cloning software from the Samsung site.

broona · 3 Jul 2018 at 00:46

Pocah said:
Why not just clone the original disk, then you don't need to install anything. You can get cloning software from the Samsung site.

I was just going to get rid of any Dell bloatware at the same time, assuming there'll be some on there?

Thekwango · 3 Jul 2018 at 00:56

broona said:
I was just going to get rid of any Dell bloatware at the same time, assuming there'll be some on there?

It’ll almost certainly be riddled with it so I’d agree a fresh install is the way to go.

Deleted member 77746 · 3 Jul 2018 at 07:18

Thekwango said:
It’ll almost certainly be riddled with it so I’d agree a fresh install is the way to go.

Always the best way IMO. Get rid of anything any other company has installed. I've always done this myself.

Fluffybob · 3 Jul 2018 at 10:25

Fresh install every time, it will optimise for your ssd too

Orcvader · 3 Jul 2018 at 10:55

A fresh install will also free up more space since OEMs will tend to reserve 10gb or so for a recovery partition, usually with their bloatware on it too.

MaDMaX** · 5 Jul 2018 at 17:12

im in exactly the same situation, just got a AlienBLOATware! 15 R3, came with a 1TB drive, i have a samsung 970 pro 512GB m2 drive and a 2tb drive to go in, so am gonna try a fresh install, if its successful and im not missing anything then i will either just keep the 1tb drive incase i ever need it or sell the laptop, or stick it in another laptop,